On May 16 and 17, Green Ellsworth will host its annual Union River Watershed Summit and celebration of all things relating to the river. The theme for this year’s Summit is Looking Backward/Looking Forward. Activities and programming will enable participants to examine the historical and changing character of the river prior to the building of the Union River Dam in 1907 to inform a consideration of the opportunities and options for the future of the river and the city of Ellsworth.

Activities will include a May 17 (noon) tour of the Union River Dam, its historic powerhouse and fish lift (in operation—courtesy of Black Bear Hydro Partners, a subsidiary of Brookfield Renewable). This will be combined with a free brown bag lunch along the river. Other features include a 20 foot outdoor display at the Moore Community Centre (125 State Street, Ellsworth) featuring a giant brook trout created by local artist Joey Rizzo. There will also be displays by Green Ellsworth’s partner organizations as well as an indoor exhibition of Rizzo’s art work.

Informational sessions and public forums will begin on May 16 (4:00PM) with a zoom session looking back at the pre-1907 history of the river in Ellsworth presented by

Dwayne Shaw, Executive Director of the Downeast Salmon Federation and members of the Ellsworth Historical Society. Register at:

https://uregina-ca.zoom.us/meeting/register/nN99BopWRtCmr82jpTnc2g.

The May 17 in-person sessions (Moore Community Center beginning at 9:30AM) will feature the second part of Dwayne Shaw’s presentation—looking forward at options and opportunities relating to the Union River and Ellsworth. Austin Schuver, Land Protection Manager for Frenchman Bay Conservancy, will continue the exploration of opportunities with a preview of an economic impact study of the river that is about to be released by Heart of Ellsworth, Downeast Salmon Federation, Union Salmon Association and Frenchman Bay Conservancy.

The day will also include the premier of a new film focused on historic mechanisms of navigation and access points along the river by Bill Fogle, President of the Ellsworth Historical Society. This is the most recent installment in a series of short films that Fogle is developing on the settlement and environmental history of the river.

This annual Summit is intended to draw together stakeholders from communities across the watershed and Hancock County to learn about the historic and future importance of the Union River, identify issues of concern and follow up actions, and envision the river’s place in the future of our region. Public input will be encouraged throughout the summit and a report on follow up actions from previous summits will be provided.

The Summit is being presented by Green Ellsworth in partnership with: Downeast Salmon Federation, Downeast Trout Unlimited, Ellsworth Historical Society, Frenchman Bay Conservancy, the Hancock County Soil and Water Conservation District and Maine Audubon.

All summit events are open to the public free of charge but advance registration for the zoom event is necessary. For more information go to https://www.greenellsworth.org/community-events or contact Mary Blackstone at 667-8878 or blackstm@uregina.ca.